Part 11/13:
India's vaccination strategy involves both domestic mass immunization and export to over 70 countries through initiatives like COVAX and bilateral agreements. Major nations such as the US, Japan, and Australia have urged India to expand capacity, viewing it as a counterbalance to China's influence through vaccine diplomacy.
However, exporting large quantities risks steepening domestic supply constraints, especially as India’s vaccination drive accelerates only three months after initiation. The diversion of healthcare resources toward COVID-19 vaccination has also endangered routine immunization programs, with setbacks in polio and tuberculosis vaccination rates.